Posted by reckless drivers
a resident of Mountain View
on Jun 21, 2012 at 2:23 pm

The victim was standing on the sidewalk. Don't even think of blaming the victim in this case.

Witness statements in other media reports say the driver was speeding and running at least one red light and talking on a cell phone before driving a significant distance on the sidewalk and hitting the pedestrian. This is extreme reckless driving, not an accident.

Posted by Slowtha F. Down
a resident of Barron Park
on Jun 21, 2012 at 2:34 pm

Many drivers should learn a lesson here, but I'm afraid they won't since it would require them to alter THEIR actions instead of blaming everyone else on the road. Disgusting driver behavior causes yet another tragic death. Unfortunately, it happens all the time, in less extreme cases usually, but it happens all the time.

Posted by neighbor
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jun 21, 2012 at 3:14 pm

Please followup on whether it is true the driver was on a cell phone while driving. I think this is an awful situation and we need to get serious about stopping this behavior. I see it too often in Palo Alto and it's scary. Please take your driving duties seriously and assist others in doing so also.

Posted by Blackout
a resident of Mountain View
on Jun 21, 2012 at 4:41 pm

I live right here across the street from where it happened. It's on escuela and California. The guy That was killed would always sit on the bus stop. He talked to himself and I think had mental problems. He always carried a bag. I heard something and I just saw the a car with and broken trees

Posted by Witness
a resident of Mountain View
on Jun 21, 2012 at 5:30 pm

I witnessed the accident and was interviewed by the police at the scene. The early 20's driver was driving approximately 85 mph on California for at least 3 city blocks when I saw him. The light turned red approximately 15 feet before he got to the limit line, he sped up run the red light and lost control after the intersection when he turned slightly to avoid a construction vehicle that was not in his lane. At that point he jumped the curb slamming into the pedestrian and taking down 2 metal poles. At the speed he was going there was no way the pedestrian would have survived (his body was severed in several places). The driver was not seriously injured, some minor cuts on his forehead, and was walking around after the accident (though they put him in a neck brace for precautionary reasons). Even if this guy was on a cell phone he would have lost control with his reckless driving/speeding (though given this guy's disregard for other lives than his own I'm sure he was on a phone, though I did not see him on a phone given how fast he was driving).

Posted by Heal Thyself
a resident of Meadow Park
on Jun 21, 2012 at 6:27 pm

Instead of blaming it on cell phone users, lets try a crack down on ALL speeders, tailgaters, non signal users, stop sign rollers/runners, red light runners, people who block others from lane changing...
We need a HUGE action to get our driving behavior back in line. I'm all for zero tolerance and MASSIVE ticket writings for ANYONE who EVER does the above. Right? I mean that's what is REALLY needed to make our roads safe again. Who's ready to look at yourself and admit you can be selfish on the road at times which leads to unsafe conditions for all. I'll admit it, I do, but about 5 yrs ago I became aware and now its quite a rarity. I worked on it.

Posted by Driver Ed
a resident of another community
on Jun 21, 2012 at 9:14 pm

Heal Thyself - sounds like the DMV needs to make the tests harder. And, where are all the driving schools out here? I only occasionally see that one school driving around with students. I guess it's expensive like everything else around here. Back East everyone takes driver's ed. There are tons of schools and instructors (many retired cops). How do the majority of people learn to drive in California? Probably from someone who can't drive very well.

Posted by In Process
a resident of Palo Alto High School
on Jun 21, 2012 at 11:21 pm

I hope they throw the book at the driver, but guessing it's manslaughter, which can be only a few years in prison.

The rules for getting a driver's license are a joke these days. My son is in the process of getting his. In our day, we took daily driver's ed classes after school for 3 months. Then we took driver's training for months also.

These days, they can take an online class - which my son breezed through in 4 days and did not learn anything.

Once they pass the written test and get their permit, they only need to take two driver's training classes plus drive 50 hours with an adult who has a driver's license. It's all on the honor system.

But if they just wait till they are age 18, they have no driver's training requirements.

Posted by Disgusted
a resident of Community Center
on Jun 22, 2012 at 11:07 am

I wouldn't be surprised if the person was on a cellphone. Everyday when I go to work on 101 just about everyone around me is texting or talking on their cell phone, and some of them drive very very dangerously. It's become a thing with me every morning to just look around and see how many people are on their phones. Since texting has become illegal it's even more dangerous because people are keeping their cell phone below the window and not looking out onto the street. Everyone squawks about not having money for cops and I don't understand why. All you need to do and get two CHP suv's, hire two rookies and put them on cell phone patrol only. The revenue generated from cellphone stuff alone would be enough to hire more cops, and do more enforcement. It should also be a law, that everytime you are in an accident the cops can automatically check your cell phone usage. Same could work for the City cops. Hopefully more enforcement, less entitlement, more lives saved.

Posted by Witness
a resident of Mountain View
on Jun 22, 2012 at 10:32 pm

I witnessed the accident so I wanted to clear a couple things up: he absolutely WAS NOT under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This was confirmed by the police as well, but it was clear that he was completely sober when he exited his vehicle and looked to be completely aware. This worthless piece of trash was driving upwards of 85-90 mph two blocks away from the intersection and sped up to run a red light (not yellow, it was red for 20 feet before he got to it). He was not breaking when he hit the curb so he hit the pedestrian with full force and the car did not stop for another 200 yards or so. I'm sure he was on his phone as well but his speed was the main culprit here. 90 mph in a 35 zone? There was no way he wasn't going to hit someone or spin out of control. He was a reckless punk plain and simple and deserves to be in jail.

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